Application of endoscopic technique in completely occluded anastomosis with anastomotic separation after radical resection of colon cancer: a case report and literature review

Background Anastomosis-related complications are common after the radical resection of colon cancer. Among such complications, severe stenosis or completely occluded anastomosis (COA) are uncommon in clinical practice, and the separation of the anastomosis is even rarer. For such difficult problems as COA or anastomotic separation, clinicians tend to adopt surgical interventions, and few clinicians try to solve them through endoscopic operations. Case presentation In this article, we present a case of endoscopic treatment of anastomotic closure and separation after radical resection for sigmoid carcinoma. After imaging examination and endoscopic evaluation, we found that the patient had a COA accompanied by a 3–4 cm anastomotic separation. With the aid of fluoroscopy, we attempted to use the titanium clip marker as a guide to perform an endoscopic incision and successfully achieved recanalization. We used a self-expanding covered metal stent to bridge the intestinal canal to resolve the anastomotic separation. Finally, the patient underwent ileostomy takedown, and the postoperative recovery was smooth. The follow-up evaluation results showed that the anastomotic stoma was unobstructed. Conclusions We reported the successful application of endoscopic technique in a rare case of COA and separation after colon cancer surgery, which is worth exploring and verifying through more clinical studies in the future.

Sigmoid carcinoma with sigmoid-rectal intussusception presenting as rectal prolapse and large bowel obstruction in the ED

Background Intestinal obstruction is a surgical emergency with most cases being small bowel obstruction. Large bowel obstruction is comparatively uncommon and colonic malignancies are a usual cause. Such lesions cause intestinal obstruction by luminal narrowing or rarely serve as lead point of intussusception. Case presentation Herein, we describe an unusual case of sigmoid carcinoma causing sigmoid-rectal intussusception, rectal prolapse, and eventually large bowel obstruction. Conclusion Pre-operative CT should be done in all adult large bowel obstruction to look for possible site and cause of obstruction and to rule out malignancy as a cause of obstruction. Conversely, every case of rectal prolapse should be diligently evaluated to rule out intussusception, which if present in an adult indicates a high likelihood of underlying malignancy.

Salvage Endoscopic Full-Thickness Resection of Colorectal Carcinoma after Radiotherapy in a Patient Not Eligible for Surgery

For early, superficial colorectal carcinoma, endoscopic resection is an accepted curative treatment with an excellent long-term prognosis. Our report is the first report describing endoscopic full-thickness resection (eFTR) of residual recto-sigmoid carcinoma after radiotherapy. Our patient with cT2N0M0 recto-sigmoid carcinoma had been treated with radiotherapy because severe comorbidity precluded surgical resection. When the residual tumor was observed endoscopically, complete remission was achieved by endoscopic full thickness resection. There were no endoscopic or radiological signs of recurrent malignancy after the two-years follow-up period. In selected cases, eFTR after radiotherapy could be a curative treatment option.

Colonic diverticular disease

Colonic diverticula are herniations of mucosa through the bowel musculature. They are seen most often in the sigmoid and descending colon, with a prevalence of up to 65% in people over the age of 80 in European populations. They are uncommon in African and Asian countries, where the prevalence is only 0.2%. A lifelong diet deficient in dietary fibre is associated with their development, but it is not known why some diverticula become symptomatic. Diverticula are usually discovered incidentally, but symptoms which are attributable to diverticular disease include colicky abdominal pain and bloating, often accompanied by a change in bowel habit with the passage of broken, pellety stools after considerable straining. All patients with such presentation should be investigated to exclude rectal or sigmoid carcinoma. Treatment is with reassurance that there is no serious underlying disease, a high-fibre diet, and—for patients with pain—antispasmodics such as mebeverine. Elective resection may be indicated in the few patients who have repeated severe attacks. Complications of diverticular disease include diverticulitis, pericolic abscess formation, peritonitis, intestinal obstruction, haemorrhage, and fistula formation. Acute diverticulitis typically presents with pain and tenderness over the left lower abdomen, and the patient may have pyrexia, malaise, anorexia, and nausea. Treatment is with rest, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and analgesia. Resection of the sigmoid colon may be necessary if symptoms fail to resolve or recur, or for patients with complications (peritonitis, fistula, obstruction). Overall, percutaneous drainage, antibiotic treatment, and expectant policies have reduced the need for both acute and elective surgical treatment.

Metachronous Sigmoid Carcinoma and Mantle Cell Lymphoma in Intestines

It is rare that colon carcinoma and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) occur one after another in intestines. We found two malignancies of sigmoid carcinoma and MCL in a single patient, who had initially been diagnosed with sigmoid carcinoma and treated with radical resection in our hospital. Good postoperative recovery was reported without recurrence signs, which lasted for 7 years and 5 months until polyps of sigmoid colon were found by colonoscopy. Biopsy and immunohistochemistry revealed MCL, but the patient refused treatment. One year later, MCL was diagnosed again in the transverse colon. The patient is currently under observation and has not received treatment for MCL.

Unlucky patient combining two rarities: sigmoid colon cancer mimicking appendicular abscess and pseudomembranous colitis involving the small bowel

We report a case of an extremely rare presentation of a sigmoid carcinoma, which presented as an appendicular abscess along with pseudomembranous colitis involving the small bowel. Colo-rectal carcinoma has presented as abdominal wall abscess in the past, but to the best of our knowledge, an incident of colo-rectal carcinoma presenting as an appendicular abscess and later developing pseudomembranous colitis involving the small bowel has never been reported. Such patients’ condition is potentially curable if detected early through careful history taking, examination, investigations and regular screening programs.